Teaching Tools

The Sidwell Friends School is one of a string of educational buildings designed by Kieran Timberlake that merge instruction, sustainability, and behavior modification.

Designing for future generations is a central theme in the sustainability movement. That design itself can modify behavior, teaching the youth of today how to be the eco-friendly leaders of tomorrow, is an incredible testament to the power of architecture and interiors. The Sidwell Friends School, designed by Kieran Timberlake Associates, is an exemplary model of how design can have a positive impact on our children and the Earth. Interactive systems like landscapes built for water reclamation, green roofs, and sunshading among others place the environment squarely within the curriculum. The article “Teaching Tools” by Aric Chen from the July/August 2007 issue of Metropolis shows the integrated kit of tools—from the philosophical tenets to the interior architecture, landscapes and beyond—that Kieran Timberlake used to create a school that teaches sustainability with every inch of its existence. Interior designers interested in how display can invoke action will be enlightened and inspired.

To download the full transcript in PDF format, click here.

To download the Metropolis CE Participant Exercise for 0.2 credits, click here.

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